'Drops in the Ocean' - Laura Storm's first solo exhibition has just opened at The Press Room gallery and cafe in Surbiton, London. The Press Room is a popular venue that showcases local artists' work and Laura's photographs will be on display for the next month. Set out in three themes; People Underwater, Big Animals and Abstracts & Creative Visions, the exhibition features ten stunning underwater images. The photographs are a mix of new work and awarded & shortlisted (finalist) efforts. If you're passing by, drop in for a coffee and enjoy the show. The Press Room, 5 Claremont Rd, Surbiton, London, KT6 4QR

BSoUP August Meeting

The next BSoUP meeting takes place on Tuesday 15th August at 7.30 for 8.00 p.m. in Meeting Rooms 3, Union Building, Beit Quadrangle, Imperial College, South Kensington, London SW7. Entrance via Prince Consort Road (Directions). New and prospective new members will be welcomed from 7.30 p.m. See Welcome.

His images have been published in numerous magazines and books, and he’s contributed memorable underwater sequences to classic BBC series like The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Life, Frozen Planet, Ocean Giants, Forces of Nature and many others.

Doug’s presentation will mix behind the scenes stories with his perspective on how filming and photography have changed over time. He’ll offer advice on technique and equipment, and give insight into his own style for a single shot or a sequence.

All this from the man who never had a formal lesson in photography in his life.

In Focus - Wide-angle - Results

Congratulations to Nick More who was the winner of this month's Focus On Competition with a wide-angle shot of a Lionfish beneath a liveaboard.

Congratulations also to Christian Llewellyn and Bernat Garrigos who came second and third respectively. Christian's image was of a jellyfish beneath Snell's window and Bernat's image was of a crocodile in mangrove. There wera total of 29 entries which were judged by Paul Colley.

BSoUP Members only can view all the entries in the archive and Paul's feedback on all 29 images. You will be prompted to login if you haven't already done so this session.

1st - Nick More

2nd - Christian Llewellyn

The top six:-

Pos.

Photographer

Subject

1

Nick More

Lionfish beneath liveaboard

2

Christian Llewellyn

Jellyfish and Snell's window

3

Bernat Garrigos

Crocodile in mangrove

4

Joe Daniels

Eel & Children

5

Mark Drayton

Evening reef scene

6

Jean-Michel Mechefert

Cave Diver

Next month's Focus On Competition is Close-up. The competition will open shortly. The deadline is Sunday 6th June 2017.

Please submit your jpeg image at 1400 pixels wide(landscape) or 1050 pixels tall(portrait) at 72ppi and at a size less than 1M. Please indicate what your subjects is and where it was taken.

Submit your best and most impressive underwater images, taken anywhere between January 1st to November 1st, 2016,
and win some of the most valuable prizes ever awarded to underwater photographers.
Please review all categories rules and guidelines prior submitting images or videos to the World ShootOut competition.

July BSoUP Meeting

The next BSoUP meeting takes place this month on Tuesday 18th July at 7.30 for 8.00 p.m. in Meeting Room 3, Union Building, Beit Quadrangle, Imperial College, South Kensington, London SW7. Entrance via Prince Consort Road (Directions). New and prospective new members will be welcomed from 7.30 p.m. See Welcome.

Chairman Paul Colley has been designing, building and experimenting with a new camera rig to photograph creatures that spend their nights at the interface between air and water. Building on his experience of river work, he has started a new project to produce some night wildlife images. He has kindly agreed at short notice to break cover with his interim experience and results, which may in time become an exciting new body of work.

Most people will know Paul. A former BSoUP competitions member and current Chairman, he started underwater photography in 2009, formed his own photography business and has achieved modest success in national and international competitions, including category wins in Underwater Photographer of the Year and the British Wildlife Photography Awards. He tries to make his images count in the conservation of our rivers, lakes and oceans by working with marine and freshwater conservation agencies. His work has been widely published, including by the BBC.

Competition: Wide Angle
Definition: Underwater scenes or specific subjects with obvious wide angle background contexts (e.g. reef, open water or both). There were 29 entries and the competition is now closed. The slideshow may be viewed by members only. You will be required to login if you have not already done so this session.

The competition has been judged by Paul Colleywho will present the results for the top six, along with his comments, at the meeting.

Talk 2: Nick More - Zero to Wannabe Hero

The basis of the talk is my transition from keen diver with an interest in underwater photography to becoming completely obsessed. How I became involved in photography and tips, tricks and techniques I've learned over the past four years. I'll be presenting my favourite images that have been successful in competitions and sharing technical details as well as 'back' stories to accompany them. The later part of the talk focuses on future aims and ambitions to achieve success in major competitions.

Nicholas More, aged 41 lives with his wife Rachel in Leicestershire where he works as a Dentist. He has been diving since 1993 after a try dive in Key West. He qualified in 1998 in the Maldives and is now a Padi DM with well over 1500 dives. His photographic achievements include several Focus-On wins and numerous placings. He was Overseas winner (public vote) in the BSoUP/Diver Print competition in 2013.

Nick More

He was highly commended in the same competition in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and was overall winner in 2016. He was also awarded a Silver medal in 'Our world Underwater' competition 2017 - in the unrestricted macro section.

This competition engages the British and Irish underwater photography community in a one day competition shoot out. It is accessible to people who live and dive at different locations around Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and England.

A 26th August on-the-day multi-location competition format reduces the travel and cost burden for competitors, whilst at the same time encouraging a level of participation commensurate with a true championship.

Photographers will compete for five awards and associated prizes, foremost being a trophy in memory of one of BSoUP's co-founders, the late Peter Scoones, and the title British & Irish Underwater Photography Champion 2017

Images can be taken and submitted electronically from anywhere within the championship geographic boundary from 10pm Friday 25th August to 10pm Saturday 26th August 2017. The competition is open to all underwater photographers of all nations, with contestants demonstrating the underwater photographic and post-production skills to produce high impact British and Irish images within a limited time frame. Images can be from any body of salt or fresh water in the seas, rivers, streams and lakes of our islands.

BSoUP will convene a panel of three judges (to be announced) during the week following the competition. The results will be announced week commencing 11th September and the awards presented in London on 19th December 2017.